Matt and Melissa deadlift in a metcon.
Grip. What grip do you use on a deadlift? Do you ever change it? When do you change it?
There are a lot of philosophies out there about grip. No single one is definitive other than this: If you can’t hold onto it, you can’t lift it.
So, you need to decide what to do when. I like to keep it simple: Overhand hook grip deadlift until my thumbs rip off. Or until I can’t hold it anymore, actually. If the bar starts to feel jiggy in my hands, time to go to the mixed grip. But not until my grip is almost done. I like Mark Rippetoe’s theory that the mixed grip is like the silver bullet — save it for when you really need it. Change your grip at the beginning of failure and send a different signal to your brain — “Oh! New movement! New recruitment pattern!” . . . and maybe you can get some more mileage out of that tank of gas. (Whoa — I just mixed ammo and fuel in metaphors — watch out!)
Now, you might have a different philosophy — and that’s okay. But test it, try it, mess around with your theory, your grip, your life. Like our old friend, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote back in 1842: “Do not be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.” Emerson would have so loved CrossFit, right?
July 22nd, 2010 at 11:56 am
he would have loved crossfit. lol
July 22nd, 2010 at 12:01 pm
Timely post because I’ve been trying everything with my DL grip lately. I actually hook grip when doing lighter weight, regular grip for most of a WOD, then mixed grip at the end of a WOD like last night, or when going heavy. I’m all over the place to try to get my pathetic DL numbers up. In other news, Melis and Matt are RX studs!!! Sub 13 RX is sick.
July 22nd, 2010 at 12:03 pm
Good one Lis, Until the thumbs pop is the way I usually go. I have not had much luck with the mixed grip, maybe because I wait too long and the back is already done.
HOWEVER, last night the warm-up methods Jen introduced, hamstring stretching/flexing between warm-up sets made the DL wod feel different/better!!!
BTW-holy sh#t Matt and Rachael @ 6, Killin it!!!
July 22nd, 2010 at 12:47 pm
Since the Oly Cert I have gripped just about anything coming off the floor with with a hook grip. It just feels “right” now. It didn’t to start, but now it just feels more secure to me. Plus my inner thumb is calloused enough, which helps.
I have never used the mixed grip, for 2 reasons:
1) My grip has yet to fail me on deadlifts.
2) The only times I did actually try it was with heavy deadlift weights – I would start to pull, the bar would rotate a little when/if it got off the ground, then I would freak out and drop it. I never took the time to try it at lighter weights and learn to “balance” it.
Ah well, yeah, Melissa and Matt destroyed it last night. The 6pm class in general rocked it! Good stuff.
Extra special thanks to Jen, Melissa and Lis for helping me load up my car last night! You gals rock.
XOXOXO
July 22nd, 2010 at 1:33 pm
In case anybody cares to know, N8 has the MEANEST looking knife.
Just had to share.
And, for the record, Melissa and Jen did the heavy work. I opened boxes and directed activity and then counted stuff. I’m surprised no one hit me with a heavy weight.
Also, I watched N8 rip apart a wooden box with his bare hands. No joke.
July 22nd, 2010 at 2:09 pm
I heard that Nate wrestles grizzly bears for fun.
July 22nd, 2010 at 2:31 pm
-Chuck Norris has nightmares about Nate.
-Nate sleeps with a pillow under his gun.
-It takes Nate 3 minutes to do 8 minute abs.
-There are only two things that can cut a diamond; other diamonds, and Nate.
-If Nate punched you in the face, you’d fight the urge to thank him.
-Jack Bauer wakes up every morning thankful that Nate let him live.
-LeBron didn’t sign with the Knicks because Nate told him to stay the hell out of New York.
I could go on, but I’ll quit there.
July 22nd, 2010 at 2:37 pm
I hear Nate makes a mean Cheese Soufflé
July 22nd, 2010 at 3:25 pm
Nate applies ThunderDome rules to everything . . . even Spelling Bees. (“Two men enter, one man leaves!”)
July 22nd, 2010 at 3:28 pm
Rare footage of Nate’s house: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmRAiUPdRjk&feature=player_embedded
July 22nd, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Thanks to whoever put the extra emphasis on my Rx last night (coughMelissacough) and also I have to tell everyone that Pete is the best boss ever for letting me leave work early yesterday so I could go deadlift at the 6pm!!
July 22nd, 2010 at 4:32 pm
- Nate is devastatingly handsome.
- Nate is really smart. He is quite good looking as well.
- The men want Nate and the ladies want him too (yes, his sexiness transcends all). Plus, he is a wicked hottie.
- Last week, Nate f-ed around and shot a triple double. It was a good day. He looked attractive doing it as well.
- I can’t get over how hunky he is. He must work out.
- He is pulchritudinous.
- I hear he owns at least one thesaurus.
July 22nd, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Golly! You are all much too kind!
July 22nd, 2010 at 4:34 pm
Cross grip really works for me. I’ll go cross grip when the weight starts to get heavy. It really helps the bar from spinning. On a WOD like this I found it easier to cross grip from start to finish. Even though my weight wasn’t really heavy I didn’t want to risk a slip and go unbroken during the reps especially if my hands are sweaty after the run.
July 22nd, 2010 at 5:55 pm
HA!!! Wow.. I think “not Nate” has a crush!!
July 22nd, 2010 at 10:30 pm
I like Not Nathan a LOT better than Nate. Anybody else?
And Brian — is “Cross Grip” like deadlifts and dresses?
July 22nd, 2010 at 10:31 pm
It’s okay — you can tell me to shut up anytime.
July 22nd, 2010 at 11:07 pm
The reason why I joined this gym was to do this wod “sugar daddy”, not exactly what I was expecting.. I’m sore but still broke..
July 23rd, 2010 at 12:56 am
Bwahahaha, Bobby!
July 23rd, 2010 at 9:27 am
Nice job Rachael! I alternate my grip to create neurologic confusion….or maybe I’m just confused….it works for me